Transmission assembly for a vehicle

Abstract

A transmission assembly for a vehicle includes a transmission housing, an intermediate bearing plate, a flange, and an intermediate shaft assembly. The transmission housing defines an interior region and includes a housing cover operable between closed and open positions. The intermediate bearing plate extends into the interior region and houses a first bearing. The flange houses a second bearing and is operable between mounted and removed conditions. In the mounted condition, the flange is mounted to the housing cover. The intermediate shaft assembly includes a first intermediate shaft that rotates within the first bearing and a second intermediate shaft that rotates within the second bearing. The second intermediate shaft is operable between engaged and disengaged conditions. In the engaged condition, the second intermediate shaft is engaged with the first intermediate shaft such that the first and second intermediate shafts are coaxial and rotate at a common rate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vehicle, comprising:
 a transmission housing, comprising:
 a housing body; and 
 a housing cover that is operable between a closed position, wherein the housing body and the housing cover cooperate to form an enclosure about an interior region of the transmission housing, and an open position, wherein access to the interior region of the transmission housing is provided; 
   an intermediate bearing plate that extends into the interior region of the transmission housing, wherein the intermediate bearing plate houses a first bearing;   an electric motor that drives rotation of a rotor shaft that extends into the interior region of the transmission housing;   an intermediate shaft assembly, comprising:
 a first gear module having a first intermediate shaft that is supported by the first bearing and operably coupled with the rotor shaft via a gear interface, such that rotation of the rotor shaft drives rotation of the first intermediate shaft; and 
 a second gear module having a second intermediate shaft that is operable between an engaged condition, wherein the second intermediate shaft is engaged with the first intermediate shaft such that the first intermediate shaft and the second intermediate shaft are coaxial and configured to rotate at a common rate of rotation, and a disengaged condition, wherein the second intermediate shaft is removed from the first intermediate shaft; 
   a bearing housing removably mounted to the transmission housing and having a second bearing housed therein that is configured to support and facilitate rotation of the second intermediate shaft, the bearing housing being operable between a mounted condition, wherein the bearing housing is mounted to the transmission housing, and a removed condition, wherein the bearing housing is removed from the transmission housing; and   a differential disposed within the interior region of the transmission housing in the closed position of the housing cover and having a ring gear that interfaces with the second gear module in the engaged condition of the second gear module and the mounted condition of the bearing housing.   
     
     
         2 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the ring gear includes a plurality of internal teeth that interface with the second gear module. 
     
     
         3 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the bearing housing is removably mounted to the housing body of the transmission housing. 
     
     
         4 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a third bearing housed within the bearing housing and configured to support and facilitate rotation of a portion of the differential in the mounted condition of the bearing housing.   
     
     
         5 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the ring gear includes a plurality of external teeth that interface with the second gear module. 
     
     
         6 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the bearing housing is removably mounted to the housing cover of the transmission housing. 
     
     
         7 . The vehicle of  claim 6 , wherein the bearing housing comprises a flange that is bolted to an interior surface of the housing cover in the mounted condition. 
     
     
         8 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate bearing plate is integrally coupled with the transmission housing. 
     
     
         9 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the ring gear, the intermediate shaft assembly, and the rotor shaft are configured to rotate about respective parallel axes. 
     
     
         10 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the ring gear is selectively coupled with the differential, such that the ring gear is operable to be removed from the transmission housing in the open position of the housing cover. 
     
     
         11 . A transmission assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
 a transmission housing that defines an interior region and includes a housing cover that is operable between a closed position and an open position, wherein access to the interior region is provided;   an intermediate bearing plate that extends into the interior region and houses a first bearing;   a flange that houses a second bearing and is operable between a mounted condition, wherein the flange is mounted to the housing cover, and a removed condition, wherein the flange is removed from the housing cover; and   an intermediate shaft assembly that includes a first intermediate shaft that is supported by and rotates within the first bearing and a second intermediate shaft that is supported by and rotates within the second bearing, the second intermediate shaft being operable between an engaged condition, wherein the second intermediate shaft is engaged with the first intermediate shaft such that the first intermediate shaft and the second intermediate shaft are coaxial and configured to rotate at a common rate of rotation, and a disengaged condition, wherein the second intermediate shaft is removed from the first intermediate shaft.   
     
     
         12 . The transmission assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a differential having a ring gear that is operably coupled with the second intermediate shaft in the engaged condition of the second intermediate shaft and the mounted condition of the flange, such that the rotation of the second intermediate shaft drives rotation of the ring gear.   
     
     
         13 . The transmission assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the ring gear is selectively coupled with the differential, such that the ring gear is operable to be removed from the transmission housing in the open position of the housing cover. 
     
     
         14 . The transmission assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the ring gear and the intermediate shaft assembly are configured to rotate about respective parallel axes. 
     
     
         15 . The transmission assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the flange is bolted to an interior surface of the housing cover in the mounted condition. 
     
     
         16 . The transmission assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the intermediate bearing plate is integrally coupled with the transmission housing. 
     
     
         17 . A transmission assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
 a transmission housing that defines an interior region and includes a housing cover operable between a closed position and an open position, wherein access to the interior region is provided;   an intermediate bearing plate that extends into the interior region and houses a first bearing;   a bearing housing that houses a second bearing and a third bearing and is operable between a mounted condition, wherein the bearing housing is mounted to the transmission housing, and a removed condition, wherein the bearing housing is removed from the transmission housing;   an intermediate shaft assembly that includes a first intermediate shaft that is supported by and rotates within the first bearing and a second intermediate shaft that is supported by and rotates within the second bearing, the second intermediate shaft being operable between an engaged condition, wherein the second intermediate shaft is engaged with the first intermediate shaft such that the first intermediate shaft and the second intermediate shaft are coaxial and configured to rotate at a common rate of rotation, and a disengaged condition, wherein the second intermediate shaft is removed from the first intermediate shaft; and   a differential having a ring gear that interfaces with a gear coupled to the second intermediate shaft in the engaged condition of the second intermediate shaft and the mounted condition of the bearing housing, such that rotation of the second intermediate shaft drives rotation of the ring gear, wherein the third bearing facilitates rotation of a portion of the differential.   
     
     
         18 . The transmission assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the ring gear includes a plurality of internal teeth that interface with the gear coupled to the second intermediate shaft. 
     
     
         19 . The transmission assembly of  claim 17 , the ring gear and the intermediate shaft assembly are configured to rotate about respective parallel axes. 
     
     
         20 . The transmission assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the intermediate bearing plate is integrally coupled with the transmission housing.